Tag: mobile

National Cyber Security Awareness Month continues, and this week we have some tips on mobile device safety.

Today, we are more dependent on our mobile devices than ever. At Widener, we make every effort to keep using them easy (did you see our latest update about guest wireless?). But with that ease of use comes some risk. Take a look at some ideas from the #CyberAware campaign:

Mobile Apps – Only download your apps from Google Play or the Apple Store. Apps from other sources are rarely checked for malware or bugs.

WiFi hotspots – Although handy, WiFi hotspots are not secure. Anyone connected to it can scan your outgoing data (hello, bank account app), or they can attack your device with no firewall between them and you. Wait until you’re on your own network, use your cell data network, or check into using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which is a way to communicate securely over a less-secure network.

Lock your device – It sounds basic to those of us that do it, but many people don’t have a passcode or fingerprint reader set up. Our devices are small and portable; they’re easy to misplace, lose, or get stolen. And most of your apps are probably password-cached, because it’s easy. Nearly everyone does it. Just make sure that you have your device locked down so that no one can get in if it ends up in someone else’s hands.

For more info, check out this tip sheet, Safety Tips for Mobile Devices. As always, please call the Helpdesk at x1047 for assistance with any IT issue.